Question on Control panels.

[BoLt]

So I am in the planning stages for my cabinet.  I seem to totally clueless on buttons and joysticks.  It seems that almost every manufacturer says their products are like a  real arcade control. 

I am really building this cabinet for mostly one thing:  fighting games.  Street fighter and Mortal Kombat to be exact.

It seems with buttons and joysticks can making clicking noises.  I dont really want that since they didn't back in the arcade.  I can deal with it when it comes to buttons but I really dont want my joystick clicking when I move it.  This also seems to me that there would be some kind of resistance to make the button / joystick activate which I also do not want.

As for other buttons (player 1 & 2, coin buttons, etc.) I could care less if they click.

Any good suggestions on silent items for my control panel?  The only other thing is I want a 4/8 way joy.

Thanks guys and gals.

[GregD]

There are all kinds of different switches.  Some switches are very clicky and some are not.  If you don't like the click (and the arcade joysticks could be clicky as well) then get switches that require less pressure to actuate.  I have been happy with Groovy Game Gear's SST Soft Touch switch.  Very quiet.

[CheffoJeffo]

If you are into fighters, then you likely had clicks. I think one of the fighters used Perfect 360 optical joysticks (can't remember which one), but I expect most of the rest would have used microswitches.

I think you are confused about the resistance issue -- all arcade-related switched have some resistance required to activate (otherwise they would always be on). There are varying levels, but I doubt it would be noticeable unless you are really attuned to it (and, since you didn't notice the clicks ...).

[BoLt]

Maybe I am wrong then.  I dont remember clicky buttons when I played MK, MK2 and SF.  It was a long time ago

Thanks for the suggestions.  I do want to keep the clicking to a minimum just for my wifes sanity! 

[CheffoJeffo]

I prefer leaf switches, which don't click, but I think most fighter jocks would disagree with that choice.

[BoLt]

hm... Well now I am more confused lol.  I guess I can get leaf switches and if I dont like them just replace them with clicky ones.  Then I would have to build a second cabinet.

[CheffoJeffo]

hm... Well now I am more confused lol.  I guess I can get leaf switches and if I dont like them just replace them with clicky ones.  Then I would have to build a second cabinet.

Leaf switches and microswitches are not interchangeable.

Check Control Panel in the wiki for more details.

[fighterfanatic]

Somebody say, "Street Fighter?"  I grew up playing the Capcom arcade fighters starting with SFII, hence the cab build in my sig.  My recommendation would be UltraStik360 joys (no clicks) with stiffer springs, and restrictor plate of your liking, and Happ style concave buttons.  I've gone through every combination of buttons and joys over the years and found this to be the best (for me) fighter setup.

FWIW, old school all clicked, joys, buttons and all.

[CheffoJeffo]

FWIW, old school all clicked, joys, buttons and all.

 

[fighterfanatic]

Am I remembering wrong? I don't think I ever played a Capcom fighter that didn't.

[CheffoJeffo]

Ah ... I misunderstood that you were limiting it to fighters, in which case I would agree (although I could have sworn that one used optical joys).

[BoLt]

I guess I just never heard them in the loud arcade :-p  Thanks for the info man.  That really helps me out.

[fighterfanatic]

Ah ... I misunderstood that you were limiting it to fighters, in which case I would agree (although I could have sworn that one used optical joys).

I want to say it was one or more of the Virtua Fighters, but don't quote me on that. 

[BoLt]

What type of restrictor plate do you use?

[fighterfanatic]

I went with a round, after debating between 8way. There's also 4way, but it's my least favorite of the three.  The round works well if you decide to play other games other than fighters too, as you don't hit any "corners." The great thing about the U360s is that you can wire them up with all your buttons connected as they're essentially a game pad.  No need for any other encoder if you go that route.  BTW, a restrictor plate is a MUST if using this stick for fighters, the throw is way too long otherwise. Parries and dashes are nearly impossible to do accurately without it.

[paigeoliver]

You generally can't here them in the arcade and can only barely hear them at home (and only then if you keep your volume low like I do).

Street Fighter 2 shipped with the Happ Super joystick. If you want the exact experience you had playing those games when you were younger then those are the sticks you want. Plenty of other people might recommend all sorts of Asian joysticks that the various fighting game pros like, but those aren't the sticks you used, and note that Happ sticks generally weren't available in Japan at all, those pros are just using the same sticks they grew up using and the American players are emulating them out of the whole Asia/import is better thing.

The Happ super isn't my favorite joystick in the world by any means, but I have never been sad that I was using one (unless it was on a Pac-Man).

[BoLt]

The great thing about the U360s is that you can wire them up with all your buttons connected as they're essentially a game pad.  No need for any other encoder if you go that route. 

So is it worth it paying more to not need an encorder?

[yaksplat]

You may still need an encoder if you need additional buttons on your control panel.

[BoLt]

You may still need an encoder if you need additional buttons on your control panel.

Yeah... that makes sense.  Sorry I am a noob on this stuff still... obviously :-p

[TGov]

hm... Well now I am more confused lol.  I guess I can get leaf switches and if I dont like them just replace them with clicky ones.  Then I would have to build a second cabinet.

Leaf switches and microswitches are not interchangeable.

Check Control Panel in the wiki for more details.

The CLASSX buttons from GGG can be used with their 'true-leaf pro' switches or microswitches.   I have used both in them.

[CheffoJeffo]

Ah ... cool. Thanks for the correction.

[PL1]

hm... Well now I am more confused lol.  I guess I can get leaf switches and if I dont like them just replace them with clicky ones.  Then I would have to build a second cabinet.

Leaf switches and microswitches are not interchangeable.

Check Control Panel in the wiki for more details.

The CLASSX buttons from GGG can be used with their 'true-leaf pro' switches or microswitches.   I have used both in them.

Once Sirwoogie fixes wiki logins, we can update that.   

   *Going back to waiting patiently -- as directed -- as we pass the 2 month mark.*   


Scott

[fighterfanatic]

You may still need an encoder if you need additional buttons on your control panel.

Yah, depends on what you want to do. For a strictly 2P fighter setup, I'd imagine 2 x 6button layouts would be all you'd need. I ended up using two U360s (in input mode) and xpadder to get the keyboard shortcuts needed for admin functions --- I'm happy with the setup.  A nice little feature of the U360 is its shift function. (Button 8 is shift which allows buttons 9-15 via 1-7.

I now have my miniPAC lying around which will now force me to build another cab.